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Kate Bush

I hesitated between posting this question in the Music forum rather than Analog, but since the question regards the quality of the vinyl pressing and sound rather than the quality of the music, I decided the question was more fitting in the Analog forum.

I own all of Kate's records with the exception of "Aerial," and all of her albums are exceptionally good sounding, even the recent reissues of "The Hounds of Love" and "The Sensual World." Her last release before "50 Words for Snow" was "Director's Cut," which she released under her own label Fish People. The quality is beyond reproach. I just purchased "50 Words for Snow" and cleaned it with the AIVS 3-step formulas before first play. I had to stop a few minutes into the first song as the sounds was being marred by the loud crackling noise every several seconds. Same with the second song. It pretty much continued throughout the entire two-record album. The album was mastered by Doug Sax and James Guthrie and the CD sounds spectacular so I know it's not the recording but the quality of the pressing. Does anyone who owns this release share my experience? As much as I'd want it to be the case, I find it hard to believe I just happened to buy a bad isolated pressing. I'm so bummed as the music is heavenly.
actusreus
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,753 posts
 
My copy is fine. I played at CES/THE Show as a demo.
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
I brought the album back to my local record store I got it from and the manager "sampled" it on his Sony turntable at home and said it sounded fine. I guess he was nice enough to offer me a brand new replacement. I thought I'd try it first without cleaning, and a few seconds into the first song, exactly the same thing: swoosh every rotation in the left speaker, then disturbing surface noise as the song progresses. Absolutely unlistenable. No problem with any other record in my collection or the few used ones I acquired since the original purchase of this album. WTF? I'm convinced it's some sort of a manufacturing quality issue with the album in general, not just my copies, that is evident with a more resolving system. I'm very annoyed as I'm now stuck with a brand new double album of amazing music I cannot listen to.
moonglum
619 posts
 
Does this new disc show the same problems at exactly the same places, Actus? Is the disc drilled dead centre? MRA is often the root of all evil in situations like this but it looks like you accounted for that with your cleaning regime.

To finally nail the problem, take it down to your local hifi dealer and ask him to play it. If it exhibits the same symptoms then it's the disk. If not, it's mechanical.
Hope this helps...
cousinbillyl
190 posts
 
I had a similar? problem with a Lucinda Williams LP.

With carefull adjustment of azimuth and anti-skate I was able to get rid of my 'left channel 'hiss''. I am not sure if you are having the same type of problem.

The other side of the album played perfect regardless of tonearm adjustments. Yes I am/was baffled.
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rauliruegas
13,002 posts
 
Dear Actusreus: As Atmesphere my copy is just fine. Yes it is pity that this fine KB recording you can't enjoy it.

What worried a little is that your dealer play your copy with out trouble. If this is absolutely true by his part then IMHO you are in " trouble " because that LP is showing " something " in your cartridge/tonearm set up. The Lp is not so deamnding for your cartridge fail to track it in good shape.

So, the trouble is on both LPs samples that you already try it.
In the past I had a similar problem with an LP and with two samples and was with the third that problem gone.
Seems to me that " there " is a problem ob not very good quality control pressing and your dealer or the manufacturer must solve that problem given you a right LP sample.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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